Bank-fixture



3 Sheets--Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

I. J. BARNBS.

BANK PIXTURE.

Patented June 9, 1896.

ATTORNEYS.

AN DRLW B GRANAM. FHUTOUYHQNABNIIENEDV (No Model.)

- 3 Sheets-Sheet '2. IgJ. BARNES.

BANK FIXTURE.

Patented June 9, 1896 W/TNESSES? E/VTOR I ATTORNEYSL ANDREW EJJRAHAM. PNOTD'LTHQWASMINGTUNJE (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

I. J. BARNES.

BANK FIXTURE. No. 561,?53. Patented June 9, 1896.

&i

//// /l /l l a lillllll-lllllllllllk Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISHMAEL JAY BARNES, OF DECATUR, IOXVA.

BAN K-FIXTU RE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,'753, dated June 9, 1896.

Application filed October 12, 1895. Serial No. 565,&70. (No model.)

To all whom 'z may conccrn:

'Be it known that I, ISHMAEL JAY BARNES, of Decatur, in the County of Decatur and State 'of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Bank-Fixture, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the inventon is to provide a new and improved bank-fixtnre which is simple and d urable in Construction and arran ged to enable the cashier or other official to protect himself and the money in his charge against burglars and thieves during business hours.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and eombinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speeiication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improvement, showing the slats and the cashiers windowclosed. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. is a like View of the same with the slats and the cashiefis window open. Fig. 4: isa cross-section of the same on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a like View of the sane on the line (3 G of Fig. 3. `Fig. 7 is a plan View of the improvements with the slats in a closed position. Fig. S is a sectional .plan View of the same on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 9 is a plan View of the improvement with the slats in an open position.

011 top of the cashiefis desk A in a bank is arranged an open framework B, provided at or nearits middle with two posts C, connected with each other at the front by a plate C preferably made of sheet metal, and leaving an opening above the desk between the posts to form the cashier s window or opening 0 through which money is taken in and paid out. This opening 0 is adapted to be closed by a door D, fitted to slide vertically in guideways 0 formed on the inside of the posts O.

In the space between the end posts of the open frame B and the posts C are arranged slats E, journaled at their upper and lower ends in suitable bearings in the top and bottom bars of the open frame B. The slats E,

when in a closed position, overlap one another, as is plainly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2,

frame on both sides of the posts C. The-upper pivot ends of the slats E eXtend above the top plate of the frame B and are provided with erank-arms E', engaging a bar F, provided at or near its middle with a projection F', connected with a spring G, Secured on the top plate of the frame B. This spring G, by drawing on the bar F, causes a sudden closing ot' the slats E whenever the said bar F is unlocked by the bolt H, fitted to slide Vertically in one of the posts and engaging an aperture or reoess 13 in the under side of the projection F". (See Figs. 3 and 6.)

The bolt H is held in an uppermost position and in engagement with the recess F by a spring I, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the lower end of the bolt H ext-ending below the desk or table A to connect with a chain'J, passing under a pulley J journaled in a block J secured to the floor. The chain J then extends upward from the pull'ey J' to connect with an arm K of a lever K, 'fulcrumed at K in bearings L, attached to the sides of the desk A, as is plainly illustrated in the drawings. Now it will be seen that when the bolt H engages the recess 1 it holds the slats in an open position, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6, and 9, and the operator, by pressing with his foot on the projection K, exerts a pull on the chain J, so that the bolt H is drawn downward against the tension of the spring I and out of engagement with the recess F The moment this takes place the spring G exe'rts its pull on the barF to move the latter to the left, and as the said bar engages the crank-arms E' the latter are turned and the slats E are moved into a closed position. The slats and drop-door 'constitute a shield which the cashier can throw between himself and a burglar.

The door D is provided with aknob D' and with an npwardly-extending arm D formed in its top with a catch D adapted to engage a'shoulder F onthe' projection F' whenever the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 3- that is, when the slats E are open. By this arrangenent the door D is supported in an uppermost position-that is, above the opening C -and when the bolt H is pulled down- 7, and 8, so as to completely close the open IOO - ward, as previously explained, the bar F slides to the left, and then the shoulder F moves from under the catch D and consequently removes the support for the door D, and the latter now drops by its own weight to close the opening 0 Thus at the same time that the slats E are closed the opening 0 is closed by the door D.

From the arm K' of the lever K extends a chain N to an arm O' of a door-bolt O, fitted to slide in a suitable casing underneat-h the table or desk A,at one side thereof, as is plainly shown in Fig. 3. The bolt 0 is pressed on by a spring P and is adapted to engage a keeper in the door Q, forning the entrance to the interior of the bank. Now when the several parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 then the bolt O is withdrawn and held in this posi tion by the chain N, connected with the arm K'; but when the operator presses the said lever K, as previouslyexplained, then the chain N permits thebolt O to shoot outward to engage the keeper in the door Q, so as to lock the latter. Now it' is readily understood that should a 'burglar or thief ask the cashier to throw up his hands the-cashier would still be enabled to actuate the lever K with his foot, so as to cause a sudden closing of the slats E, as well as to lock the door Q, (assumin g the door to be close d,) to prevent the burglar from harming the cashier and from taking the money or other valuables on the table A in the rear of the frane B.

A wire-netting R extends over the front of theframe B to prevent the burglar from reaching in between the slats before they are closed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim a new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. 'A bank-fixture, comprising a series of slats journaled in an openframe, a bar con'- ne'cted with the said slats to open and close the same, a spring pressing onthe said bar, a locking device engaging the said bar and adapted to normally hold the same in position when the slats are open, and a drop-door provided with a catch adapted to en gage a shoulder on the said bar, to support the door in an uppermost position and to pernit the door to drop when the bar slides to close the slats, substantially as shown and described.

2. A bank-fixture, comprising a series of slats journaled in an open frame, a bar connected with the said slats to open and close the same, a spring pressing on said bar, a looking device engaging said bar and adapted to normally hold the-same in position when the slats are open, a drop-door provided with a catch adapted to engage a shoulder on the said bar, to support said door in an nppermost position and to permit the door to drop when the bar slides to close theslats, and means, snbstantially as described, for actuating the said looking device, as set forth.

3. A bank-fixture, comprising a series of slats, journaled in an open frane, a bar con-.

nected with the said slats to open and close the same, a spring pressing on the said bar a looking device engaging the said bar and adapted to normally hold the same in position when the slats are open, a drop-door provided with a catch adapted to engage a shoulder on the said bar, to support said door in an uppermost position and to permit the door to drop when the bar slides to 'close the slats, means, substantially as described, for actuating the said locking device, and a bolt controlled from the said means and adapted to lock the entrance-door, as set forth.

ISHMAEL J AY BARNES.

Witnesses:

E. W. TowNsEND, A. S. MIL SAP. 

